The federal government currently spends much less
money on Alzheimer research, prevention and a
cure than on other conditions such as cancer, heart
disease and HIV — $6 billion for cancer, $4 billion
for heart disease, $3 billion for HIV/AIDS. But just
$480 million for Alzheimer’s disease.
The consequences are plain to see.
America has made progress against cancer,
heart disease and HIV because of the federal
government’s commitment to combat them.
We can achieve the same results for Alzheimer’s
disease with a similar commitment to finding a
cure. With such a commitment by the federal
government, we can find ways to prevent, control
and cure this heartbreaking disease.
“I began to realize I wasn’t the gal
I used to be. It was different inside
my head. I would be talking with
someone on the telephone, then
hang up and ask myself, ‘Who was
that? What did we talk about?’
My husband says he was shocked and
knew something serious was going
on when we returned from a vacation
together, and I told him, ‘I really
had a great time in California. I’m so
sorry you couldn’t make it.’ ”
— Mary Ann Becklenberg, Indiana
If you think finding
a cure is expensive,
consider the cost facing
people living with the
disease and those taking
care of them. We’ve already seen the consequences of
underfunding. But there’s more: we are at risk of
losing a generation of scientists who are either
choosing other fields or leaving research altogether.
These brilliant minds are our greatest resource in
this fight, and we should be applying them to our
most difficult problems.

Alzheimer’s Disease Research: Genuine, Tangible, Hope
Despite the relatively low level of funding,
Alzheimer’s disease research has come so
far, particularly in the last 10 years. With the
cooperation of the medical and research
communities, we are at a tipping point. We have
the ideas, the technology and the will, but we do
not have the commitment from the federal
government. And we have reason for genuine and
tangible hope that will fundamentally change the
nature of the disease.
Every day brings us closer to a cure. An additional
commitment through a public-private partnership
could push us over the edge, make the difference
and deliver the results.
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Scientists believe we
are at a tipping point
right now.
A commitment to a thorough, heartfelt and
innovative approach to finding results will give
us significant returns on our investment, relief to
those currently suffering from the disease and
peace of mind to millions of baby boomers who will
otherwise get the disease. And we can do it without
the government increasing its deficit. It’s how and
where the government spends that matters.
We should not and cannot forget or neglect those
who have this devastating and heartbreaking
disease today or who will get the disease tomorrow.
They need better care and better support services.
And their struggling, loving families need more help.
For the first time in history, there is real hope
in emerging science that we can overcome
Alzheimer’s disease and that the day is near when
Alzheimer’s does not need to be a death sentence